Chicago-based Universal Scrap Metals (USM), one of North America’s largest wholesalers and processors of scrap metal, disclosed expansion of its operations to include a recycling facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. USM’s investment includes purchasing state-of the-art recycling equipment from Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation (ABRC). This equipment is used to help prepare used beverage containers for processing at aluminum smelting facilities. ABRC has a long relationship with USM and is fully supportive of their continuing efforts to expand this facility and their business.

Operating under the name USM Alumacycle, the deal is a group investment between parent company Universal Scrap Metals, Inc., USM Processing, Ltd., and USMe, LLC. USM Alumacycle president, Jason Zeid, said, “This recycling facility in Kentucky will expand USM’s already vast aluminum processing capability and allow us to service more customers in the south.”

To further growth and expansion, USM has put together a mergers and acquisitions program. The company now operates in eight locations throughout the Chicagoland area, Central Illinois and Kentucky.

“Operating this new facility is a monumental step in line with our goal of providing the best recycling and processing solutions possible,” said USM’s chief operating officer, Pat Madison. “This will allow USM to process off spec used beverage cans and other aluminum alloys in a state-of-the-art facility that is unique to the industry and, in turn, allow us to offer higher recovery on these cans and aluminum alloys to manufacturers, dealers, waste companies and mills.”

The recycling facility was designed and engineered from the ground up three years ago by Machinex, a company specializing in sorting technology for the recycling industry. The system has the capability of shredding, sorting and processing five million pounds. of aluminum per month. USM Alumacycle is located in close proximity to some of North America’s largest aluminum sheet mills, eliminating many logistical issues and other costly factors of transporting aluminum commodities.